It’s another hot Sunday afternoon in South Florida.

I’m in Boca Raton dining at Dvash Mediterranean Fusion restuarant.

And as luck would have it, it’s my first time.

As I listen to the piped-in Israeli music, I study the menu.

It says, “The food here is made with love and is simply delicious.”

So I order a mimosa, a plate of lamb chops, and for dessert—warm halvah crepes topped with vanilla ice cream.

The grilled lamb chops come with garlic mash, grilled asparagus, mint pistachio dipping sauce.

And they are delicious and made with love.

And I am quite impressed.

The owner, Ilan Cohen, knows what he is doing in the kitchen.

The menu reads, “Ilan Cohen is a self-taught chef who began his career in Jerusalem.”

The menu continues, “Ilan and his wife, Lauren, have been serving authenic-Israeli cuisine to the South Florida community for more than a decade.”

I think, “Ilan and Lauren have earned their chops.”

But today, as I sit in this restaurant, I’m not thinking about wine or food.

So as I sip my mimosa, I think about the 14 that got away.

So as my teeth tear the meat off of the lamb chop bone, I think about the 14 that got away.

And as my spoon cuts into the melted vanilla ice and the halvah crepe, I think about the 14 that got away.

And I wonder, “Is being self-taught all it’s cracked up to be?”

Thumbs up:

Candace Flax;

Annette Magnus;

Heber Abraham;

Sam Richardson;

Melissa Stollman;

Mary Dullinger;

They look delicious.—Penina Sarah;

Robbie Lilith Sheehy;

Robert Levin;

Bryan Alexander;

Deborah C. Pollack;

Robert Platshorn;

Sandy Stone Sabin;

Joanna Barren Hayes;

Laurie Lungen Handel;

Connie Goodman-Milone

Robert Levin;

Perry Yaver;

Simply brilliant. I love your writing.—Judith Brown

Pattie Bleas Rollka;

What’s the reference that I missed?—Nisan Hirsh.

I’m watching Love On The Spectrum (second season) on Netflix and loving it.

I have fallen for this non-scripted reality show.

I have fallen for this cast, a bunch of young Australians—who are on the autistic spectrum—as they go on a quest for dates and love.

I wonder, “Will the Israelis produce a similar program using young orthodox Jews who are on the autistic spectrum? Kinda like Shtisel, turned into a dating game for autistic people.

Holy smokes!

I just learned that the Israeli’s already have produced a similar program (seculars not orthodox) on autism called, On The Spectrum.

But from what I read, it’s not nearly as good as the Aussie show.

Of course, these young Aussies are high on the spectrum—so there’s a better chance that Cupid’s arrows will pierce the heart of a potential mate.

I’m hooked on this mating/dating game. So much so, that I can’t wait to see, who will find love and who will go home empty-handed”

I want to reach into my TV and grab the rejected and yell into their ears, “All is not lost. There’s still hope.”

So I sit and watch as one young man (Michael) who in his twenties visits his girlfriend’s (Heather) home for the first time to meet her parents and siblings.

The whole group sits around the dining room table making small talk.

They discuss where they have travelled to and where in the whole wide world they’d like to visit.

My ears perk up when Heather says, “I want to go to Poland to see Auschwitz and I want to visit the Anne Frank House.”

Remember this is a young, Christian, woman who was born and raised in Australia.

Remember that she’s three generations removed from the Shoah.

Yet, she announces her desire to see a concentration camp.

And she wants visit the room in the attic, where Anne Frank hid behind a bookcase from 1942 to 1944 in fear that Nazi’s would find her and her family and send them to a death camp.

She wants to see where Anne wrote her diary before she died in Bergen-Belsen.

She wants to see the concentration camp where Anne was interned.

I am not surprised that Heather’s parents quickly change the subject.

No surprise that Heather’s parents, nor Michael, ask any follow-up questions about: Why Poland? Why Auschwitz? Why Anne Frank?

But I still ponder, what I have just witnessed.

I recall the media and some social activist groups stressing how a large portion of the latest generation claims to have never heard of the Holocaust.

Therefore, the goal of these social activists is to put Holocaust educational programs in all schools.

An admirable goal.

But these stories make me pessimistic. For I fear, one day the word ‘Auschwitz’ will no longer have meaning.

I fear the loss of six million Jewish lives will be forgotten.

But now I think, “All is not lost. There’s still hope that in 100 years or longer the Holocaust will still be remembered.”

Thanks Heather, for reminding me that the “Never Again and the Never Forget” messages live in hearts and minds of people across this whole wide world.

Heather, you have made me realize:

All is not lost and there is still hope.

Thumbs up and shares:

Eight shares on Next Generation to Holocaust & Heroism Group

Randy Jordan Sr.;

Kazi Imran Hossen;

Tony Eman Tony:

Anatoly Koramblyum;

Stacey HeidenI thought her wish to visit was awesome. I found myself wishing to go along with her. Your article pointing out that many young do not know this history was not even an occurrence to me as one who did have these stories in our history books and wrote reports on Anne. Wherever Heather learned of it, I was sorry to see her family shut the subject down too. You’re so correct though, there is much hope.

Anne Frank was on the spectrum?—Ali Reza

Lenny Ressler;

Dorot Memorialine;

Mike Zu;

Alice Stevens;

Robert Degnen;

Mary Dullinger;

Shalom Sibonongile;

Tovai Isreal Ohee;

Lina Tamang;

Timothy Scott;

I hope you are write. I see the hatred spewing and I am afraid..—Shula Neufeld

Sandy Stone Sabrin;

Lois Feinstein;

Judy Levine Altman;

Sarah Tuttle-Singer;

Isaac Ivan Edward Kleinschmidt;

Louis Lowy;

Sandra Shatkin;

Prince Worshim;

Isabel McDonald;

Thanks Mort. I hope you are right.  Sometimes the loudest voices drown out the ones we so,seldom hear from.

Joel

Efrraim Eckhaus;

Ther is always hope. Doris Coley Bartow:

Attie Salomon;

Connie Goodman-Milone;

James Sciullo;

Deborah C. Pollack;

Robert Lilith Sheehy;

Shalom Cohen;

Rebecca Gaston;

Joan Spence;

Lina Tamang After I read Anne’s Diary I feel so sad…she was a brilliant, blessed young girl.

Mitch Paul;

Mary Hietaharju Sela;

sehmmoum;

Isabella Wilson;

Marc Janoson;

I could not sleep and just read what you wrote. History should not be forgotten. I have 2 magazines about Anne Frank. I have to show you when we see each other again. Astonishing how cruel people can be.Anne wrote once.
I KEEP MY IDEALS, BECAUSE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING I STILL BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOOD AT HEART.— Marieanne Holmes

Sarah Lederstein;

خلصت الحكايه

Your follow-up is an honor for me The night Sober night with my surgeonAnd I wish there was a doctor to healMy friend stayed with meAnd longing for the night is overwhelmedAnd who is my night, I love youWhat do you answer my friend?

Concetta Falcone-Codding;

Perry Yaver;

Blake Laitner;

Bonnie Fabian-Cohen I’ve also been taken with Love on the Spectrum. I have watched the two seasons. These are such pure hearted individuals who are searching for love just like the rest of but minus the bullish*t. Great article.

“Sweetie, did you know that old age has some benefits, but not many,” I said with a sigh of resignation.

I’ve reached that age, or is it that stage in life, where one of my most persistent questions is, “How many more times will I… enjoy this sensation, or feel this pleasure or taste this flavor? Always thinking this could be the last time.”

“Well honey, nobody knows when they’ll be gone for good, so act like you’re going to make it to a 100.

And by the way, what are these benefits that you’re talking about? Are they Medicare, senior citizen rates and discounts?

But here’s  a list of detriments that greatly outweigh any benefits you can think of.

The loss of:

Sight; hair; shape; memory; attention span; stamina; looks; hearing; sex drive are definitely not benefits.”

“Sweetie, you’re so right.

But you forgot:

The aches; the pains; the pills; the arthritis; the frequent peeing; the struggle to get off the bowl; the shrinking; the stooping; the tremors; the wobbliness; G-d forbid the falling down.

Talking about G-d, he’s/she’s sending us a message in our latter years, forcing us to focus in on the reality of our old age, just like a soldier fighting in a battle.

He’s telling us, “Time may not be your friend but you can’t afford to waste it or make it into your enemy”

“So your saying, “Since we ain’t got much time left, we better use it wisely. Sounds like a fortune cookie.”

“Yup.”

Now is time for us to draw out our sensations, our feeling, our smells and our tastes.

To hold on to them for a few extra seconds and relish life.

“Honey, do we have any choices when we start playing, The How-Many-More-Times Game?

“Nope, not really.

Yah no, when we were kids we played, wow, this was my first time. I got to do that again.

Now at our age, it’s time to play, This Could Be My Last Time.”

“Honey, do you mind if I wrap up or summerize your thoughts on living in the golden years?”

“No, of course not.”

“When you smell the roses take a few extra whiffs and hold onto their perfume for a second longer.

Let your taste buds explode when you bite into that toasted bagel, shmeared with Philly Cream Cheese, covered with sliced onions and capers, always remembering to close your eyes and ride the crest of the flavors.

When you listen to Mozart or the Beatles or the Stones, shut your eyes and let your ears orgasmically float off into the ether.

When you see a rainbow or a butterfly or an orchid, take the time to admire their beauty and thank G-d for life.

Take time to softly touch the waves, the trees and the gardens, for when you close your eyes for the last time, let it be with a smile on your face and love in your heart.”

Thumbs up:

Connie Goodman-Milone;

Mona Perlman;

Richard Cohen;

Marylyn Stull Wnc;

Candace Flax

Stuart Lubinsky;

Leslie Snyder Pines;

Peter Dill;

Cindy Karp “Well said.”;

Lisa Kaszas;

Gilli Allan;

Pat Patton-Williams;

Briam F. Gummoe;

James Sciullo;

Laurie Lungen Handel;

Pat Bonner Milone;

Perry Yaver Just read today’s blog and you describe how I feel upon getting up every morning. Then all of a sudden I could not hear, then my arm fell asleep, then my knees buckled. When all is said and done I went out before dawn to watch nature and the sun came up again…. Getting old “sucks”…

It does.—Mort